Presumably the main issue (and the reason most Benko players prefer 1...Nf6) is 1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nc3, heading for a Schmid Benoni (and one where White can still play f4, as opposed to e.g. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3.d5).   

To flesh that out a bit, my impression is that the line most likely to gain an advantage against the Schmid is 1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e4 d6 5. f4 Bg7 6. Bb5+, akin to the "Flick-Knife Attack" in the Modern Benoni.  (6. Nf3 could be considered a position from the Austrian Attack in the Pirc, where after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5 White plays the not very common 6. d5.)

which move order is preferable when playing for the Benko? 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 or an immediate 1.d4 c5?    Seems like the chances of actually achieving a benko might better by the immediate c5. Is this true? What would I have to prepare for if I chose this move order? Is this just making things harder for me and I'd be better off using the typical move order?

Help please.   
Thanks in advance.

suny wrote on 02/24/07 at 07:25:35:


This is indeed a way of playing against the Benko.  1 d4 (it would be much better if you gave moves when posting here) 1...Nf6  2. c4 c5  3. d5 b5  4. axb5 a6  5. bxa6 g6  6. Nf3 Bxa6  7. Nc3 d6  8. Nd2 Bg7  9. e4 Bxf1  10. Nxf1 Qa5!  12. Nd2 Qa6!  Black fights for the a6-f1 diagonal, and has his routine forms of longerm queenside pressure.  Navrotescu - Plachetka, Israel 1989.